Due to confidentiality, we don’t get to share too many stories about the wonderful and beautiful children who attend our free horse ministry program BUT we get to share this amazing story of Will, told by his mom Greta.

“About a year ago, Will expressed an interest in horses by typing his interest and love for horses to his occupational therapist, Wendy Atkinson. Wendy, a volunteer at Wings of Hope Ranch, contacted Alison Boyd at the Ranch to see if there was an open spot for Will in their program. Luckily, there was a weekly session available for the rest of the season.

When Will first visited the Ranch last fall, he was excited but unsure of his surroundings. The volunteers were so patient and helpful to him. He would watch the other ranchers riding with interest but wasn’t comfortable getting on a horse.

Will started sessions again last spring, once again, with very patient volunteers who talked to him and spent time grooming the horse. A few weeks into the session, they put a saddle on Salvation just in case Will decided to ride. He didn’t ride that night but got on the mounting block and watched others demonstrate how to get on.

A few weeks later, with the support and encouragement of some awesome helpers, Will got on the horse! Will was so happy and proud of himself. We are so thankful for Wings of Hope.”

Volunteers and Wings staff want to add that it has been a complete pleasure and team effort to introduce Will to horses. All of us have probably gotten more out of the experience than Will and his mom!

When Will finally did ride, he was amazing! He was so calm and balanced in the saddle. It was like he had been riding his whole life. Salvation, our precious rescue horse played a special role in this success story as the most patient and

A Wings of Hope Newsletter • P.O. Box 1674 • Ashland • Virginia • 23005 • 804.883.8903 • www.wingsofhoperanch.org

Inside This IssueThe View from My Saddle................................. 2

We Love Our Volunteers.................................... 3

Praise Report & Wish List.................................. 4

A Memorial for Salvation................................... 5

Welcome Wendy & Belle................................... 6

Fund for Hope Update....................................... 7

Will (L), Salvation, and volunteer Andi Masch during Will’s first season at the Ranch. Sal passed away in November. See tribute page 5.

One Family’s Story of Salvation

One Family’s Story of Salvation continued on page 3

“He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:4 NKJV)

Ranch Roundup

Spring 2019

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The View from My SaddleDear Friends,

It has been a wet and rainy winter at the Ranch but the Son is still shining in our minds! Frequently, during my last few years, I liken my walk with Christ to an amusement park ride. Sometimes a roller coaster with its ups and downs, other times a lazy river with long seasons of waiting, or a holy version of Disney World’s Mr. Toads Wild Ride with its quick twists and turns and all I can do is hang on.

Looking back, 2018 was an incredible growth year for Wings of Hope Ranch. We had so many children waiting to participate in our program that we reduced our seasons in half so existing ranchers only got partial season time to make room for new ranchers who were able to begin. We did double the amount of children we served BUT did not spend as much time with each child as we had in the past. To accommodate all the children we now serve, and begin to serve those on the waiting list … yes, we STILL have a waiting list … we REALLY need to grow our facilities and volunteer base to run our program year-round.

God has provided for us during every dip, swell, and desert over the last 13 years; we have complete faith that He also has a plan for our next few years. Maybe that plan includes YOU? As a volunteer, a donor, or supporter in some way.

Many of you who know me and the Ranch have heard the story of how it got started. My love of horses from the age of three, finally saving up enough money for my own horse in 8th grade, and the extraordinary friendship that bloomed from there. Heidi and I were the only youth boarders at a rustic show barn in the suburbs of Minneapolis, and both of our horses were, let’s say, not

necessarily show quality. My horse Koty was a little long in the neck and short in the legs. Heidi’s horse Monica, well, where do I begin?

Monica was “colorful” both in looks and personality. She had your typical Appaloosa attitude (times 10!) which would require extreme perseverance from Heidi to get her to walk, trot, and what we called “the Monica wind up” to a canter. The Monica canter required a swinging of her tail, 360 degrees, a dozen times before reluctantly beginning a slow and bumpy canter. Heidi and I LIVED at the barn, one mom dropping us off after school every day and the other mom picking us up. Long Saturdays of riding the back roads and fields of Minnesota, singing songs, talking about boys, and planning our futures, which ALWAYS included having a ranch together to help children.

Without going into many details, we both learned a lot during this precious season of our lives. About what it looks like to have a best friend, but in hindsite, how those ramshackle horses saved and shaped our lives. The years would

reveal personal and emotional challenges for both of us, that later would add a layer to our vision for our future ranch for children. We decided we would serve children who had been abused or had their self-image damaged in some way that could be repaired by the love of a horse. Despite both of us moving away from Minnesota and going to college in different states, (Heidi to veterinarian school) our friendship has stood the test of time.

Neither of us really knowing Christ personally until adulthood, our vision and dream of a ranch would not occur until we committed our lives to Christ. Of course, that would be God’s timing, as we were missing the most important piece. All true healing comes through Christ as your Savior. I, and two incredibly brave friends were able to start Wings of Hope Ranch in 2006. Heidi and her family have always been long distance supporters, giving us our FIRST donation of $1,500. They have prayed us through many challenges through the years and have been faithful givers even though it has also been a dream of theirs to do something like Wings of Hope near them in California. This fall at our Hoe Down for Hope, we received our biggest gift to date ... a check from Heidi and Mike for $30,000. A love gift with a note that said, “If even ONE child comes to know Jesus from this donation to the ranch, it is worth every penny.”

Gratefully,

Alison Boyd, Executive Director

Heidi (L) and Alison (R) as teens.

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loving ministry partner. Sal stood by quietly for months until Will trusted her enough to get on her back.

Sadly, Sal retired immediately after her ride with Will due to chronic lameness. It was almost like she waited for him to be ready and complete her last assignment.

In November, Salvation went home to be with the Lord. She enjoyed her twilight season standing by for all the love, grooming, and attention the ranchers and volunteers gave her. For one family, especially, she delivered them from challenging life circumstances each time they came to the Ranch to spend time with her. Truly, this gift of Salvation will always be remembered.

One Family’s Story of Salvation

continued from page 1

Volunteer Chris Constable assisting Will on Salvation during one of his sessions. Due to Will’s challenges, it took him months before he would put on a helmet. Because of Salvation’s patience, Will trusted her and eventually climbed on. His big smile is one of the many examples of how Salvation impacted ranchers.

Top: Ranchers and volunteers at the Ashland Christmas Parade.

Bottom: In February, we hosted a “We Love our Volunteers” themed volunteer appreciation event and had a lot of fun together.

We Love our Volunteers!In 2018, our 40 youth volunteers provided nearly 700 hours of support and our 75 adult volunteers provided almost 1,500 hours of focused attention. Every year, our volunteers provide more than 1,800 hours of support feeding and watering the horses, and cleaning stalls twice a day, every day of the year! Off the Ranch, volunteers tirelessly provide support setting up events, assisting local rescues in helping horses find homes, managing fundraising events, working with local groups such as the Boy & Girl Scouts, Chamber of Commerce, adult homes, and local churches. They go to training and ministry events, take CPR classes, research horse health, and meet monthly to ensure the Ranch runs smoothly!

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Praise Report

Thank you to everyone who contributed and then prayed for our horses Hope and Faith who had their dental surgeries over the winter break. They were diagnosed with EOTRH (Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis), a painful condition that if not treated can cause damaging effects. They had to get their front teeth removed to stop the condition from progressing.

Hope and Faith both recovered well from the surgeries and are already showing signs that the surgery has helped them. They are both eating better, and in general,

doing great. The girls should be healed 100% soon.

Hope needed a tracheotomy after surgery due to some complications, but is healing just great! Despite some complications, God provided and kept them safe!

Their tongues may stick out a bit because they have no teeth to hold them in place, but will be used in the same manner as they always have been.

The folks at Woodside Equine, Dr. True and the team, have done a fabulous job taking care of our girls.

Ranch Wish ListThe following wish list items, listed in order of importance, are things that would be a huge blessing to us!

• Quarterly Landscape Grounds Team to help keep the ranch tidy and maintained

• Contractor to clear land to create more pasture on existing land

• Electric fence materials (T-posts, solar battery electric fence system, and coated wire)

• Newer Spreader brand Manure Spreader model number 225

• Wooden fence posts and 8 or 16-foot fencing boards

• Gift certificates to Ashland Feed Store, Montpelier Feed Store, or Tractor Supply

• Good clean and fresh hay (square or round bales)

• Backhoe work to grade paddock and area around barn to drain better

Please contact us if you have any of these items to donate. We will happily give you a tax deductible in-kind donation receipt for your gift!

804.883.8903 ext. 2wingsofhoperanch@aol.com

by Kennedy Hall, Barn Manager

Healing for Faith and Hope

Wings of Hope Ranch is thrilled to share and celebrate the completion of Will Bretches’s Eagle Scout project! Will and his team of Scouts carved out a wide and well-marked, new sensory trail ride area through our woods next to our riding ring. This trail will be an exciting new option for our ranchers and volunteers to explore God’s creation as an alternative to ring riding. Thank you Will and team for tackling such a large project. We look forward to using it this spring! Volunteers are already getting the horses and minis de-sensitized to using the trails.

Eagle Scout Project Complete

EAST COAST MINISTRY CLINIC

Sept. 28-29, 2019

Creedmoor, NC

Sign up at www.wingsofhoperanch.org

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A Memorial for Our Beloved Salvationby Alison Boyd

Sal was a gifted minister to not only the children who knew her but the adults, too. She had a sweet spirit about her that broke down barriers quickly. Perhaps her biggest lesson to us all was about forgiveness. Before Sal came to the Ranch, she

had been left to fend for herself one winter many years ago, with no food or water until some nice neighbors discovered and rescued her. She never held a moment of bitterness towards people, even though they had failed her. She would even let

you rub her broken ear that was damaged by human hands years before. She patiently waited for children who were afraid to get on her, sometimes for 45 minutes!

As many of you know, Sal came to us with an old injury on her back leg that caused her to limp. She could never put her full back weight on that hoof. We had retired her the spring of 2018 after the vet said she was getting too arthritic to carry riders anymore but she was still a large part of our program. Many people were still working with her on the ground only. Sal loved to lay down, more than any other horse. We frequently got calls through the years from alarmed barn workers that Sal was laying down and not even trying to get up. This was a norm for her. She liked to take a load off!

In November, Sal was telling us it was time. She was laid to rest next to her old buddy, Blossom, up on the hill at the Ranch. We had a memorial in December, after Deck the Stalls, where many shared their love for Sal.

We want to take the time to thank Diane and Kennedy for all their help taking care of all of the horses, all the time, but mostly being there for Sal at the end....it’s not easy to say goodbye. We honor her great service in ministry with some photos through the years.

Fly high, big girl – now you and Blossom are together galloping across beautiful fields of white clover.

Top right: Volunteer Youth Rancher Ian is pictured with Sal.

Bottom: At Salvation’s memorial, Addison sang “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle to honor Sal. It was a beautiful song and an amazing tribute!

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We have been reminded at the Ranch that the Lord provides comfort after sorrows and joy in the morning after a season of sadness. After Blossom AND Sal’s passing last year, our dear Cody was terribly lonely. Due to his blindness and risk of founder, he has to stay in the paddock where there is no grass.

Sal and Blossom were his paddock buddies and he missed them both terribly. We put our retired pony Angel with Cody for about a week after Sal’s passing and they just were not connecting. Cody would stand around at the back of the barn and just look forlorn.

Someone suggested we consider getting the two

mini horses that were Cody’s paddock buddies at White Bird Appaloosa Rescue and Sanctuary. The three of them were terrifically bonded before he came to live with us.

We asked.... and White Bird agreed to let them go! Diane, Paige, and Alison went to pick the minis up and it was like a long lost reunion between the two minis and Cody when we reintroduced them! He was SO happy to have them back in his life! He trotted around and threw his head as if to say “yippee!”

They are like a “three pack” now, choosing to eat together out of the same hay bag, stand in the stall together, and move around the paddock

in unity. When we have to separate Cody for feeding or riding sessions, he behaves perfectly but keeps calling for his old friends to make sure they are still nearby.

As soon as we let him out of his stall after separating them for feeding time, he makes his way to their stall, pokes his head over their Dutch door as if to say “hello friends!”

by Kennedy Hall

Welcome Wendy and Belle, the Minis

We thank God for His provision for our buddy Cody, for our friends at White Bird who take such good care of their horses, and for these two joyous mini gifts, Wendy (the fuzzy black one) and Belle (the paint).

The Devotional theme for the 2019 Spring Session is the Fruit of the Spirit. We did a series on this in 2014 but felt led to present it again, with some fresh ideas. Our scripture for this session is from Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Our goal is to have the Ranchers memorize and recite these scripture verses by the end of the session, and

have some fun while learning about each Fruit of the Spirit. We will start off by learning some things about the Holy Spirit and talking about “good fruits” and “bad fruits.” A different Fruit will be introduced each week.

We will discuss its meaning, and give examples of the Fruit through a story from the Bible as well as a story about a Wings horse that helps to illustrate the particular Fruit. Each rancher will create their own booklet on the Fruit of the Spirit, which they will be able to take home at the end of the session.

We are also doing a fun activity of having each Rancher decorate a stone using each week’s Fruit of the Spirit, which they may also take home.

During our final lesson, we will review and discuss what we’ve learned about all nine Fruit of the Spirit and see how many ranchers are able to recite the Scripture verses. We will continue to give everyone the opportunity to accept Jesus as their Savior during each devotional time this session, as well.

by Joyce Foster

The Fruit of the Spirit

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Thank you to the many generous people who gave as a result of being asked in the fall to support the annual Fund for Hope. This Fund helps cover critical operating expenses like horse feed, hay, shavings, veterinarian and farrier care, including a few part-time salaries. We surpassed our fundraising goal of $35,000! To date, nearly $37,000 has been raised and we still are accepting gifts for the annual fundraising drive through June 30. Your support allows us to continuing serving families in need at no cost to them.

We also want to acknowledge the following scholarships that donors have started for $250 annually to sponsor a rancher for one season. The third General Scholarship Fund is for gifts of any amount that contribute toward rancher expenses during the season.

• Richard Anderson Memorial Scholarship• The Sunshine Fund• General Scholarship Fund

MISSIONThrough hands-on experience in a safe and peaceful environment, children facing conflicts and challenges come together with rescued horses to help each other learn to love and trust again.

CORE VALUES1. We are Christ-focused2. We are a safe haven3. We serve with excellence

CONTACTBARN LOCATION

Wings of Hope Ranch 14505 West Patrick Henry Road

Montpelier, Virginia 23192

MAILING ADDRESSWings of Hope Ranch

PO Box 1674Ashland, Virginia 23005

804.883.8903 ext. 2wingsofhoperanch@aol.comwww.wingsofhoperanch.org

Wings of Hope Ranch is a Christian 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and mostly an all-volunteer organization that relies solely on the generosity of volunteers and donors. These men and women are the lifeblood of the Ranch and we could not continue to serve families at no cost to them without volunteer time and donor resources.

Would you consider becoming one of our volunteers or making a donation? Volunteer applications are available on your website, and we accept online donations at our secure giving site at: www.wingsofhoperanch.org

SUPPORT

Seeking Volunteers for Two RolesAs the Ranch continues to grow and serve more children and families we continue to need more help to make it all happen. We seek a volunteer Rehab the Ranch Day Coordinator to provide leadership about four times a year for ranch projects upon request. We often receive calls from churches or youth groups, including small businesses or large corporations, that want to lend their physical labor and spend a half day at the Ranch doing projects. It’s a fun job for someone who is comfortable giving direction to others and helping to coordinate supplies needed for ranch labor projects.

We also seek a detail-oriented individual who enjoys working closely with volunteers and rancher families to serve as Rancher and Volunteer Scheduler. Twice a year, in preparation for the fall and spring rancher sessions, there is a lot of work happening behind the scenes to ensure each rancher participating in our program has an available adult volunteer for each shift. Youth volunteers are also matched. Most communication can be done through email, and this individual works closely with select volunteer Board members who actively serve as lead supervisors in the rancher sessions and can help make recommendations.

If you would like to create a named scholarship, or serve in one of the two volunteer roles above, please contact Alison at alison@wingsofhoperanch.org, or call 804-397-0469.

Fund for Hope Reaches Goal

P.O. Box 1674Ashland, VA 23005

804.883.8903 ext. 2wingsofhoperanch@aol.comwww.wingsofhoperanch.org

Kim Meeder, along with her husband Troy, founded Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend, OR. Wings of Hope has modeled our farm ministry after Crystal Peaks, along with over 250+ other farms/ministries in the U.S., so we are excited about this amazing opportunity!

Come join Kim at Wings of Hope Ranch on Thursday, May 9 for a potluck style warm welcome and hear about her beautiful faith in Jesus Christ!

Kim Meeder Coming to Richmond and Wings of Hope Ranch!

Wings of Hope Ranch Statement of Faith

A place where Jesus holds the reins, our feet are firmly placed in the stirrups of the Bible, and people are encouraged to sit securely in the saddle of God’s hope and love.

If you select Wings of Hope Ranch as your Amazon Smile charity, we can earn money every time you shop on Amazon!

Go to www.smile.amazon.com and select Wings of Hope Ranch as your charity once logged into your Amazon account.

Do you shop on Amazon? Kroger will donate a percentage of your purchases to the Ranch. Log on at Kroger.com and create a Kroger Plus account, and choose Wings of Hope Ranch as your community rewards recipient. Or, if you already have a Kroger plus card go online, login, and select us as your community wards recipient. Shoppers must renew it annually!

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